HUMAN CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN SELF-ADMINISTERED BY THE SUBCUTANEOUS ROUTE TO INDUCE OOCYTE MATURATION IN AN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND EMBRYO-TRANSFER PROGRAM

This study was initiated to evaluate oocyte maturation and the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles following the s,c. administrat ion of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) by the patient herself or h er partner, A group of 104 women who entered our IVF embryo transfer p rogramme were prospectively randomized to have 5000 IU or 10 000 IU HC G s.c, or i,m, The HCG was administered for induction of the final ooc yte maturation in cycles with pituitary down-regulation with a gonadot rophin-releasing hormone agonist according to a long protocol and wher e ovarian stimulation had been achieved with pure follicle stimulating hormone, The mean concentration of HCG in serum 12 and 36 h after the HCG injection was significantly higher in the women receiving 5000 IU i,m. compared to the s,c. route, However, in women receiving 10 000 I U HCG there were no significant differences in the mean concentrations 12 and 36 h after the injection, irrespective of the route of adminis tration, Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the rel ative numbers of retrieved mature oocytes between the groups. When com paring the clinical outcome in the different groups, no significant di fferences were found between those receiving 5000 IU or 10 000 IU HCG, i,m, or s,c, Our data indicate that HCG can be given s,c, without red ucing the chance of retrieving a mature oocyte and that the clinical o utcome with regard to pregnancies is not negatively affected.